Publication Local Plan, Chapter 3: Purpose and objectives

3.1 The vision of Salford City Council is to create a better and fairer Salford for all. The purpose of this plan is to provide the policies for managing development, and the land use designations, that will help to deliver that vision. The Greater Manchester Spatial Framework and a future Salford Core Strategy and Allocations document will identify the appropriate scale and distribution of future development for the city, and the key site allocations required to deliver it.

3.2 Salford has seen a turnaround in its fortunes over recent years, reversing decades of population decline and securing high levels of investment. The city is now delivering major growth, in both housing and jobs, and is helping to drive forward the Greater Manchester economy. However, despite these successes, there remain significant inequalities across the city and areas of deprivation.

3.3 Over the next 20 years, Salford will continue its evolution into a modern global city, and one of the best business and residential locations in the country. This is likely to result in high levels of demand for new development, particularly in and around City Centre Salford and Salford Quays, which will need to be carefully managed so that any future growth contributes fully to the long-term success of the city, a high quality of life for residents, and greater environmental sustainability.

3.4 Fairness is at the heart of this plan. There will be a strong focus on tackling poverty and securing social value from development. Those wanting to invest in Salford will be welcomed, on the basis that they will do their best to improve the lives of all residents in the city. This will involve helping to address inequalities, both within Salford and with other parts of the country, for example in terms of health, skills, incomes and opportunities. As part of this, there will be an expectation that all developers sign up to the City Mayor’s Employment Charter demonstrating their commitment to acting responsibly and supporting social inclusion, including paying a “Living Wage” [1].

3.5 The city council declared a climate emergency in July 2019, reflecting the urgent need to meet the challenges of climate change, both in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the impacts of a shifting climate. If Salford is to achieve its aim of being carbon neutral by 2038, then all new development will need to play a full role, including through its location, connectivity, density and design.

3.6 More generally, it will be important that development is genuinely sustainable, supporting economic, social and environmental objectives in a way that addresses the challenges facing Salford. This will include making an appropriate contribution to key aims such as:

• Future-proofing the city
• Regenerating urban areas
• Maximising the reuse of previously-developed land and ensuring that land is used efficiently as part of new developments
• Reducing the need to travel and maximising the ability to do so by sustainable modes
• Providing distinctive and thriving neighbourhoods that support wellbeing, with high levels of green infrastructure
• Achieving high quality design
• Supporting healthy lifestyles
• Improving air quality and reducing pollution
• Tackling the scandal of fuel poverty
• Addressing problems of housing affordability and availability to avert a housing crisis
• Delivering more accessible and adaptable homes so that all needs can be met, including those of disabled people and older people
• Ensuring a good range of easily accessible shops and facilities, with strong town centres and local centres
• Providing more local employment opportunities and training opportunities
• Protecting and enhancing environmental and heritage assets, including strategically important green infrastructure
• Securing a net gain in biodiversity value, with a 10% net gain in major developments

Strategic objectives

3.7 The following strategic objectives will be central to achieving the above aims, and provide the basis for the plan’s monitoring framework. The policies and designations of the plan are designed to support the achievement of these objectives. There are also more detailed indicators and targets at the end of each chapter, which will be used to monitor the policies within them.

3.8 All indicators/targets below relate to the period 2019-2037 unless otherwise stated.

1. To enable all residents to share in the benefits of economic growth

Key target:

1. Reduction in the difference in median household incomes between the city and the national average
2. Reduction in the proportion of children (under 16s) in low income households
3. Reduction in unemployment rates
4. Increase in the proportion of the working age population qualified to NVQ level 3+ and above

2. To support improvements in the average health of residents and reduce health inequalities

Key target:

1. Increase in average life expectancy at birth
2. Reduction in the difference in average life expectancy at birth between wards in Salford
3. Reduction in the gap between the UK and Salford average life expectancy at birth
4. Increase the percentage of people leading active lives
5. No part of the city is within an air quality management area by 2024 [2]

3. To enable more households to access suitable and affordable housing

Key targets:

1. Improvement in housing affordability

4. To support regeneration and the efficient use of land

Key target:

1. Delivery of at least 85% of new dwellings on previously-developed land

5. To enable the provision of facilities and services to support new developments and existing communities

Key target:

1. Maintain an appropriate number of surplus pupil places in each pupil planning area
2. Maintain an appropriate provision of health and social care facilities
3. Increase occupancy levels in each designated centre

6. To enhance the network of green infrastructure across Salford and protect important green spaces

Key targets:

1. Increase in the proportion of households that meet defined recreation access standards
2. Increase in percentage of surface water bodies of at least good ecological status or potential, with as many as possible at this level by 2037

7. To support a net gain in Salford’s biodiversity

Key targets:

1. Significant increase in the area of Chat Moss that is being restored to lowland raised bog or a complementary wetland habitat
2. Increase in the area of land in positive nature conservation management

8. To minimise contributions to, and risks from, climate change

Key targets:

1. All new development to be net zero carbon by 2028, working towards carbon neutrality by 2038
2. Significant increase in the capacity of renewable and low carbon energy production

9. To significantly enhance accessibility and reduce congestion

Key targets:

1. Increase in the proportion of journeys that are by walking, cycling and public transport
2. Improvement in journey times on the key route network

10. To deliver high quality development that makes a positive contribution to the character, heritage and identity of Salford and its neighbourhoods

Key targets:

1. No net reduction in the number of statutorily protected heritage assets
2. Increase in the proportion of major developments [3] subject to a design review process       

References

[1] Paying or working towards paying a ‘Living Wage’ as set by the Living Wage Foundation.

[2] The Environment Act 1995 (Greater Manchester) Air Quality Direction 2019 was served on all 10 Greater Manchester councils in July 2019, instructing nitrogen dioxide levels must be compliant by 2024 at the latest.

[3] Major development is defined as in The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015, as amended, or any successor to it.

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